SportsOne Aims To Sell $4M In Corporate Support For '12 U.S. Track & Field Trials

The Oregon Track Club has hired SportsOne to land corporate partners for next summer's U.S. Olympic track & field trials, something that "could be more challenging than when the sold-out event visited Eugene four years ago," according to Allan Brettman of the Portland OREGONIAN. The nonprofit OTC, host of the 10-day event from June 22-July 1, 2012, "has a $4 million target in corporate partnerships." Oregon-based SportsOne also "handled partnership recruitment" for the '08 trials at the Univ. of Oregon. SportsOne Senior VP & Partner Jim Etzel said, "The success of 2008 and the rebirth of TrackTown USA has created a strong platform for companies." Brettman noted USOC sponsor Nike "has purchased a partnership" for next summer's trials, "becoming the first company to do so." Beyond Nike, SportsOne “hopes to recruit a variety of sponsorship, most from $10,000 to $300,000, with the highest tier at $750,000.” Four SportsOne employees are “selling partnerships, two more are working in a support role on the project.” Etzel said that “some partnerships already have been sold, in addition to Nike, and will be announced as the trials approach” (OREGONLIVE.com, 5/9).